The moment Kel disappeared beneath the waves—
The entire battlefield seemed to freeze.
Not because the Leviathans stopped moving.
Not because the storm calmed.
And certainly not because the danger vanished.
It froze because everyone collectively witnessed something so absurd that their brains refused to process it.
A young man.
A student.
An academy freshman.
Had just willingly jumped into a sea currently occupied by multiple Leviathans.
Silence lingered for several seconds.
Then—
The entire ocean exploded with gossip.
On the deck of Azure Horizon's vessel.
Several guild members leaned over the railing.
Their eyes scanned the turbulent waves.
Looking.
Searching.
Trying to find Kel.
Failing.
Because he had already disappeared into the depths.
One guild member slowly turned toward another.
"...he really jumped."
Another nodded.
"He really jumped."
The first guild member pointed toward the ocean.
"Into Leviathan territory."
The second nodded again.
"Into Leviathan territory."
A pause.
Then both spoke together.
"Why?"
Neither possessed an answer.
Nearby.
Several sailors who had witnessed countless sea battles exchanged looks.
Old sailors.
Veterans.
People who spent decades surviving ocean disasters.
One finally scratched his beard.
"I've seen many things."
Another nodded.
"So have I."
The first sailor continued.
"I once saw a drunk pirate challenge a sea serpent to a drinking contest."
A pause.
"Lost."
The second sailor nodded seriously.
"Reasonable."
Then the first sailor pointed toward the ocean.
"But this."
A long pause.
"This is new."
Nearby.
Several academy students had gathered.
Some belonged to combat departments.
Others studied magic.
A few came from noble families.
All shared one thing.
Confusion.
"Did he fall?"
One student asked hopefully.
Another immediately shook his head.
"He folded his clothes first."
A third nodded.
"He definitely jumped intentionally."
The group became silent.
Eventually one noble student spoke.
"...is he mentally stable?"
Nobody answered.
Because the answer was becoming increasingly uncertain.
On another vessel.
Members of a monster hunting guild had also witnessed the event.
One burly warrior laughed loudly.
"Hah!"
His voice boomed over the waves.
"The boy has courage."
Beside him.
A mage adjusted her glasses.
"That isn't courage."
The warrior blinked.
"No?"
The mage pointed toward the ocean.
"That is stupidity."
The warrior thought about it.
Then nodded.
"Fair."
Elsewhere—
Several students from Aetherial Institute were discussing enthusiastically.
Because academy students loved two things.
Stories.
And chaos.
A black-haired boy crossed his arms.
"Maybe he's scouting."
Another immediately replied.
"By swimming next to Leviathans?"
The first boy hesitated.
"...good point."
A girl nearby raised her hand.
"What if he's attempting a stealth approach?"
The group looked at her.
Then looked toward the giant Leviathan currently destroying a ship.
Then looked back at her.
"...against creatures the size of mountains?"
The girl slowly lowered her hand.
"Never mind."
Not far away.
The gossip spread even further.
"Someone jumped into Leviathan territory."
"Who?"
"The silver-haired guy from Azure Horizon."
"The explorer?"
"The one who fought the mermaid monster?"
"The one who used Divine Spoon Art?"
"THAT guy?"
Within minutes.
Half the battlefield knew.
The reactions varied dramatically.
Some admired him.
Some pitied him.
Some believed he was already dead.
Others wondered whether he was secretly powerful.
One old captain folded his arms.
"I knew explorers were crazy."
A nearby merchant asked.
"All of them?"
The captain nodded.
"Every single one."
Meanwhile—
The gossip eventually reached the center of Azure Horizon's formation.
Several younger guild members approached Elena.
The blonde Vice Guild Master was currently staring at the ocean.
Specifically.
At the location where Kel had vanished.
One guild member cautiously spoke.
"Vice Guild Master."
Elena didn't respond.
"...Vice Guild Master?"
Still no response.
Finally.
The third attempt succeeded.
"Vice Guild Master Elena."
The blonde girl sighed.
"What?"
The guild member hesitated.
Then asked.
"Should we rescue him?"
Elena stared.
Then stared harder.
"Rescue him?"
The guild member nodded.
Elena pointed toward the ocean.
"From what?"
The guild member looked confused.
"The Leviathans."
Elena thought for several seconds.
Then sighed again.
"Aedon is more likely to rescue the Leviathans."
Silence followed.
Several guild members actually considered the possibility.
Disturbingly—
The statement sounded plausible.
Nearby.
Seraphina remained standing at the bow.
Silver hair fluttered within the ocean wind.
Her eyes remained fixed upon the water.
Unlike everyone else.
She wasn't surprised.
Not really.
Because she had known Kel longer than anyone present.
Well.
Except Seiren.
And experience taught her something.
Whenever Kel did something insane—
There was usually a reason.
A dangerous reason.
A complicated reason.
Or an extremely troublesome reason.
But a reason nonetheless.
Inside Kel's mind—
Far beneath the ocean—
Seiren's laughter echoed endlessly.
"Look what you've done."
Kel continued descending through the water.
Ignoring her.
"The entire fleet thinks you're insane."
"Only thinks?"
Seiren laughed harder.
"Fair point."
Meanwhile—
Back above.
The gossip evolved.
As gossip always did.
Stories changed.
Rumors expanded.
Facts died horrible deaths.
Within twenty minutes.
Multiple versions already existed.
Version one:
Aedon Flinth was challenging the Leviathans alone.
Version two:
Aedon Flinth wanted to tame a Leviathan.
Version three:
Aedon Flinth was searching for ancient treasure.
Version four:
Aedon Flinth was attempting to recreate Divine Spoon Art underwater.
Version five:
Aedon Flinth had lost his mind.
The fifth version remained the most popular.
Even members from other guilds joined discussions.
One hunter scratched his head.
"Maybe he saw something."
Another nodded.
"Possible."
A third hunter looked toward the ocean.
Then toward the sky.
Then back toward the ocean.
"...or maybe he's just weird."
The other two immediately agreed.
Meanwhile.
On Azure Horizon's vessel.
Elena finally walked toward Seraphina.
The blonde girl folded her arms.
"You aren't worried?"
Seraphina remained quiet.
Watching the waves.
Several moments later—
She answered.
"I am."
The answer surprised Elena.
Because Seraphina sounded honest.
Very honest.
Then the former mermaid smiled faintly.
"But."
A pause.
"I think whatever is making Leviathans attack."
Her gaze remained fixed upon the ocean.
"Should be more worried about Aedon finding it."
Silence followed.
Then Elena started laughing.
The surrounding guild members laughed too.
Because somehow—
That statement sounded absolutely correct.
Far beneath the ocean.
Deeper and deeper.
Past sunlight.
Past ordinary currents.
Past the battlefield.
A silver-haired young man continued descending.
Unaware.
Or perhaps completely aware.
That above him—
Hundreds of people had collectively reached the same conclusion.
Aedon Flinth.
Explorer.
Student.
Guild Founder.
Disciple of Nameless.
Was completely and utterly insane.
And unfortunately.
Most of them were beginning to suspect that insanity might actually be one of his greatest strengths.